hi your idea is so interesting.

Couldn’t agree more – the amount of sponsored posts and how it resonates with a blogger’s readership needs to be carefully looked at.

This post is a super way to illustrate to other bloggers not only how to disclose gifted items, per FTC mandate, but how to smoothly blend that disclosure into the editorial. I always appreciate that approach; it feels more natural than a post-post disclosure, though it’s not always that easy to pull off.

I’ve become a little weary of the sheer number of “commercial” posts on fashion blogs these days—while I don’t mind seeing gifted items featured in OOTD posts, or even reviews, which are helpful—I’m over the giveaways and all the tweets and messaging related to them. Bloggers need to be very selective about the kind of paid or sponsored content they feature, and the frequency of it. If every other post is a sales pitch or a sunglasses giveaway, I personally lose interest.

And yeah, there ARE those advertisers who want you to not disclose that the content is paid. I’ve had some try to pull that over on me. The answer in that case is simple: a resounding NO. I try to head this type of situation off by having very specific terms on my rates page, which includes me maintaining complete editorial control. I ask advertisers to read and agree to the terms via email before I contract with any of them. I tell them they will NOT be provided copy to review prior to publication.

The day I let advertisers “approve” copy is the day I’ve totally lost control. That last bit is something young bloggers should realize. THEY have the power, not the advertiser. And most advertisers who have integrity and understand the value of bloggers understand this and have no problem with it. If they’ve come to you, it’s because they like and trust your “voice,” so in general, they don’t try to alter what’s already working. Those advertisers/PRs are the ones you want to cultivate a relationship with.—that’s a win-win situation.

Anyway, thanks again for the mention!

V.

Hi Kristina

They were asking you to contravene the FTC regulations. It was unethical and wrong of the advertiser, and they would never have had the gall to ask this of a magazine, where advertorial (the equivalent of sponsored posts) is ALWAYS marked up. Of COURSE posts were more helpful to them when they were masquerading as editorial but that doesn’t mean they should be unethical and ask you to lie by omission. LLGxx

It matters to me for two connected reasons: one I *was* a member of the old guard, having been a fashion editor for over ten years, and I personally want the extraordinary and brilliant blogging industry to be respected. Two: On a macro level why wouldn’t one want the respect of experienced journalists and editors who write and edit beautifully?